METRO GROUP is one of the most important international retailing companies, with some 250,000 employees around the world working at more than 2,200 outlets in 32 countries in Europe, Africa and Asia. The group's performance is based on the strength of its sales divisions, which operate independently in their respective market segments: Metro-Makro Cash & Carry in self-service wholesale; Real hypermarkets, Media Markt and Saturn in European consumer electronics retailing; and Galeria Kaufhof department stores.